us8302240

US008302240B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.2 US 8,302,240 B2 Tucker et a]. (45) Date of Patent: Nov. 6, 2012

(54) SELECTIVELY ADJUSTABLE STEERING 2 lg; glaiarian a 9 er er

MECHANISM FOR USE ON A FLOOR 3,040,363 A @1962 Kr es et a1‘ CLEANING MACHINE 3,065,490 A 11/1962 Arones

_ 3,093,853 A 6/1963 Tamny (75) Inventors: Steven W. Tucker, Centenmal, CO (US); 3,193,862 A 7/1965 Lyon

Daniel C. Venard, Centennial, CO (US) 3,206,787 A 9/1965 Daniels et a1. 3,233,274 A 2/1966 Kroll

' . - 3,284,830 A 11/1966 Kroll (73) Assignee. Karcher North Amerlca, Inc., 3,436,788 A 4/l969 Tamny

Englewood, CO (Us) 3,461,479 A 8/1969 Tierney 3,504,858 A 4/1970 Liddiard

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this RE26,950 E 9/1970 Hays patent is extended or adjusted under 35 (Continued) U.S.C. 154(b) by 630 days.

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (21) Appl. No.: 12/511,704 BR P10511488 H2008

(22) Filed: Jul. 29, 2009 (Commued)

(65) Prior Publication Data OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Us 201 1/0023248 A1 Feb‘ 3 201 1 International Search Report for International (PCT) Patent Applica ’ tion No. PCT/US10/42116, mailed Sep. 14, 2010.

Int. Cl- (Continued) A47L 11/00 (2006.01) US. Cl- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Primary Examiner i Karls

(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ........ .. 15/49.1*52.2, (74) Attorney] Agent) or Firm i Sheridan R055 PC, 15/78, 79.1, 79.2

See application ?le for complete search history. (57) ABSTRACT

(56) References Cited A ?oor cleaning machine is provided that includes a chassis

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

1,596,041 A 8/1926 Young 1,639,959 A 8/1927 Owen 1,888,339 A 11/1932 White 1,900,889 A 3/1933 Becker 1,995,084 A 3/1935 Wichle 1,999,696 A 4/1935 Kitto 2,192,397 A 3/1940 Carlson 2,263,762 A 11/1941 Dow et a1. 2,668,979 A 2/1954 MacFarland 2,709,070 A 5/1955 Bielstein 2,937,881 A * 5/1960 Norrie ......................... .. 280/775

that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of Wheels, one Which is steerable via a steering Wheel that is interconnected to a housing also associated With the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of Which is asso ciated With the steering Wheel. To access the internal compo nents of the ?oor cleaning machine, the front housing is rotated or moved aWay from the other housings Wherein the steering Wheel does not require disconnection to alloW this movement.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

US 8,302,240 B2 Page2

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,901,409 A 5/1999 Schick et a1. 5,943,733 A 8/1999 Tagliaferri

32213255? A ?zz; vKfjiegvfjl 5,984,031 A 11/1999 Velke et a1. 3,705,437 A 12/1972 Rukauina, Jr. et al. 2853a : Z5888 glatcher er a1. 3,705,746 A 12/1972 McLeod 1 1 arcussen @191

3,833,961 A 9/1974 Fortman et a1. .............. ,, 15/563 2 gelkie?alal 3,837 029 A 9/1974 Kasper 1 1 11°? 1111 61 ~ 3846’865 A “A974 Holman 6,145,855 A 11/2000 Bel11s,Jr.etal.

3,879,789 A 4/l9175 Kas er 6,158,084 A 12/2000 Webere_t 3,883,301 A 5/1975 Emgcketal 6,158,673 A 12/2000 T0et_sch1nger 3,892,003 A 7/l975 Peabody ' 6,206,980 B1 3/2001 ROblIlSQIl 3’896’520 A 7/l975 Williams 6,212,731 B1 4/2001 Ecker1e1n 3,927,899 A 12/1975 Bough 6,230,363 B1 5/2001 Kawaletal. 4,010,507 A 3/1977 Johnson 612661892 B1 7/2001 Hayme 4,019,218 A 4/1977 Cyphen 6,283,170 B1 9/2001 Roblnson 4,037,289 A 7/1977 Do-an 6,338,013 B1 1/2002 Ruffner 4,041,567 A 8/1977 Bu; Oon 6,367,120 B2 4/2002 Beauchamp 4’046’321 A 9/1977 Hevgett 6,397,429 B1 6/2002 Logan et a1. 4,135,669 A 1/1979 Bridges et a1. 2135???? 5; $88; glf'lngsetal 4,173,052 A 11/1979 Burgoon et a1. 6’442’789 Bl 90002 L0 lnsonl 4,196,492 A 4/1980 Johnson et a1. 614501867 Bl 9/2002 Lgggg eta~ 4,200,952 A 5/1980 Smiesetal. 614531506 B1 9/2002 su?mer 4210978 A 7/ 1980 Johnson et 31' 6,464,025 B1 10/2002 Koe er et a1 4,214,338 A 7/1980 Kyle etal. 614841353 B2 110002 Ra P ~ 4,219,901 A 9/1980 Burgoon et a1. 6’490’849 Bl 120002 so: 1 4293 971 A 10/1981 Block 1 1 get” 433143385 A 2/l982 Wimsatt et a1 6,497,422 B1 12/2002 Bellls, Jr. et a1.

4,339,841 A 7/1982 Waldhauser et :11. 21295133); 5% 13/588; Euffner 4348 783 A 9/1982 Swansonetal. 1 1 egattetaL 4,354,569 A l0/l982 Eichholz 6,530,821 B2 3/2003 Legattetal. 4,383,551 A 5/1983 Lynch et a1. g; gggg; iélllhu?anec eta1~

a a BI

1342,2325}, A 3,132: i112“ 31' 6,553,609 B2 4/2003 Tremmel et a1. 4,499,624 A 2/1985 Bloom et al. 2123213; 5% #588; E???“ 4538 695 A 9/1985 Bradt 1 1 1e eta1~ 4,572,023 A 2/l986 Euler 6,594,844 B2 7/2003 Jones 4,586,208 A 5/1986 Trevarthen 616001981 B2 7/2003 R‘.1ffner 4’596’061 A @1986 Henning 6,625,843 B2 9/2003 Klmetal. 4,654,918 A 4/1987 Cooper 6,629,333 B2 10/2003 B0l11en et al. 6296053 S 5/1987 Block 6,647,585 B1 11/2003 Roblnson D290’054 5 Mom Block 6,650,975 B2 11/2003 R_uffner 46753935 A 6/1987 Kas er et 31 6,671,925 B2 1/2004 Fleld et a1. 47153087 A 12/1987 Todgetal ' 6,681,433 B1 1/2004 Ruuskaetal. 4,759,094 A 7/1988 Palmer et a1. 21332133; 5% Z588: lgéhman ‘M11 4805 258 A 2/1989 Sitarski et a1. 1 1 leld eta1~ 4,809,397 A 3/l989 Jacobsetal 6,721,990 B2 4/2004 Zahuranec etal. 4’847’944 A M989 Lackner ' 6,725,512 B2 4/2004 cnnerelnl. 4’850’077 A M989 Venturini 6,735,811 B2 5/2004 Fleldet a1. 4,879,784 A ll/l989 Shero 6,735,812 B2 5/2004 Hekmzlnetal. 4,920,997 A 5/1990 Vetter et a1 617601947 B2 7/2004 Stuchhk 4’922’575 A 5/1990 Riemann ' 6,772,475 B2 8/2004 Weberetal. 5,027,464 A 7/1991 Knowlton 6,789,290 B2 9/2004 Kerltetal. 5,044,043 A 9/l99l Fieldetal 6,842,940 B2 1/2005 Chrlstopheretal. 5,054,150 A 10/199l Best et 31’ 6,845,829 B2 1/2005 Hafendorfer 530753921 A 12/1991 Gleadall' 6,880,199 B1 4/2005 Huffmanetal. 5,109,566 A 5/1992 Kobayashi et al. 2131215)? 5% $588; 113000 ‘2112111 5,127,124 A 7/1992 Palmer et a1. 6’94l’6l4 B2 900% Moi“ 5,135,080 A 8/1992 Haston 619811338 B2 V2006 J golglelry 5,174,730 A 12/1992 Niewkamp et a1. 710251835 B2 400% PZIASIZIrIZtZII 5,217,166 A 6/1993 Schulzeetal. 7’048’805 B2 500% K t l ' 5221026 A 6/1993 Williams 1 1 en eta~

5,245,144 A 9/1993 Stammen 31933138; 5% lggggg 1J3u°1fggereta1~ , , , , oyn

2343322313 A 5133; mid et 31' 7,302,734 B2 12/2007 Nowak et a1. 5,435,038 A 7/1995 Sauers g; ggggg EH50 {31 5,465,451 A 11/1995 Stegens 714301782 B2 100008 Reénane ~ 5,465,456 A 11/1995 Fellhauer et a1. 7’533’435 B2 5/2009 Pin; etal 5,485,653 A 1/1996 Knowlton et a1. 7’555’80l B2 7/2009 Peters et al' 5502 868 A 4/1996 Braeendle 1 1 . . ' 5,509,162 A 4/1996 Burgoon 2002/0116783 A1 8/2002 GlddlIlgS et 31. 15370320 5 5/1996 Hachtmann 2003/0159225 A1 8/2003 Kuo 5 524’320 A @996 Zachhuber 2003/0192963 A1 10/2003 Ebbelts 535373712 A 7/1996 Weberet a1‘ 2004/0040102 A1 3/2004 Fieldet a1. 5,555,595 A 9/1996 Ligman 2004/0172769 A1 9/2004 Giddingsetal. 5,555,596 A 9/1996 Knowlton et a1, 2004/0187895 A1 9/2004 Field et :11, 5,742,975 A 21/1998 Knowlton et a1, 2004/0221407 A1 11/2004 Fieldet a1. 5,785,453 A 7/1998 Marty et a1. 2004/0226578 A1 11/2004 Guest et :11. 5,802,665 A 9/1998 Knowlton et a1. 2004/0226584 A1 11/2004 Guest et a1. 5,898,970 A 5/1999 Straiton 2005/0251937 A1 11/2005 Ruffo

US 8,302,240 B2

2005/0251948 A1 11/2005 Ruffo W0 WO 97/15731 5/1997 2005/0252186 A1 11/2005 Ruffo W0 WO 00/28149 5/2000 2006/0064844 A1 3/2006 Venard et al. W0 WO 00/79058 12/2000 2006/0124770 A1 6/2006 Vernard et al. W0 WO 01/05216 V2001

2006/0156498 A1 7/2006 Vernard et al. $8 $8 85235‘ $588; 2009/0094784 A1 4/2009 Pedlar et a1. W0 W0 Zoos/079468 9/2005

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS OTHER PUBLICATIONS CA 2242793 5/1999 CA 2268234 10/1999 Written Opinion for International (PCT) Patent Application No. DE 1270066 6/1968 PCT/US10/42116, mailed Sep. 14, 2010. DE 1658384 4/ 1971 “Minny 16,” FIMAP, Italian Customized Cleaning, 2007, 8 pages. DE 69011648 12/ 1994 “Schmidt Produkte: Kleinkehrfahrzeug GALOPIO”, Photo of DE 9421472 1/ 1996 Galopio device, available at http://database.schmidtgroupnet/loader. DE 4429996 2/1996 php//en/schmidt/swk/products/0001 1/picture1.html, as early as Apr. DE 9421625 3/1996 29, 2003, printed on Jan. 29, 2007 1 page. DE 19539350 4/1997 “Scmidt Produkte: Kleinkehrfahrzeug GALOPIO”, Photo of DE 19745887 4/2000 Galopio device with description, available at http://database. DE 19851681 5/2000 schmidtgroup.net/loader.php/de/schmidt/swldOOO11/, as early as DE 19851666 90000 May 29, 2003, printed on Jan. 29, 2007, p. 1. DE 69608989 11/2000 “ . DE 19927593 40001 The Sc1ence of Floor Care: Pro?TM Rubber Floor Cleaner/ DE 10029691 40002 Degreaser,” Taski, http://www.johnsondiversey.com/Cultures/en DE 10030725 4/2002 US-OpCo/Products+and+Systems/Categori . . . , accessed Nov. 12,

DE 10062329 7/2002 2008, 2 Pages DE 20204485 10/2002 Fantomat Sale Sheet, BUZILI-WERK Wagner GmbH & Co. DE 10142192 3/2003 GALOPIO Cleaning Device, www.schmidt-holding.com, accessed DE 10204118 10/2003 Feb. 23, 2005, 4 pages. DE 10218244 11/2003 Galopio Operating Instructions, Schmidt Winterdienst-Und Kom DE 10221349 11/2003 munaltechnik, Jan. 17,2005, Issue 5, pp. 1-84. DE 10221351 110003 Hefter Cleantech, Convert 82, May 19, 2006, 3 pages, accessed Jun. DE 10221352 11/2003 1, 2007‘

BE Karcher, MC600 Multicleaner Brochure, date unknown, 2 pages. DE 10324826 120004 Karcher, MC600 Multicleaner Brochure, date unknown, 4 pages. EP 0017913 4/1983 Karcher, Multicleaner MC600 Manual, date unknown, 44 pages. Ep 0282850 3/19gg Karcher, Multicleaner MC600, Mar. 1990, 7 pages. EP 0281976 9/1988 Karcher, NT301 Brochure, date unknown, 2 pages. EP 0283022 9/ 1988 Karcher, Worldwide Cleaning Expertise Programme 91/92, pub EP 0176696 4/ 1989 lished more than one year prior to the ?ling date of US. Patent EP 0176697 5/1990 6,425,958, which was ?led Feb. 2001, 50 pages. EP 0569430 11/1994 Nobles Typhoon 161OP/ 1612 Wet/ Dry Vacuum Operator and Parts EP 0421194 6/1995 Manual, Jan. 2000, 22 pages Kaivac, Inc. EP 0792615 9/1997 No-Touch Cleaning Brochure, Kaivac, Inc., dated 2003, 8 pages. EP 0189617 8/1998 Photo and information related to Galo io device sold on Mascus EP 0867331 9/1998 . . p EP 1023867 6 / 1999 webs1te, available at http://www.mascus.com/producticard. EP 09 5 1857 10/ l 999 asp?br:Broddway&catn:Groundscare&page:1&location:EN& Ep 1108092 6/2001 pr. . . , indicates that device was registered in 2000, printed on Jan. 29,

EP 1164074 12/2001 2007.11 L EP 1260129 11/2002 Photo of Galopio device, available at http://www.bassewitZ.de/ EP 1265713 12/2002 fahrZeuge/schmidthtm, as early as Jan. 26, 2002, printed on Jan. 29, EP 01108091 10/2004 2007,1313, 1-2, EP 1335869 10/2004 Print out of Kaivac No-Touch Clean System, www.Kaivac.com, EP 1604605 12/2005 dated Jan. 23, 2003, 3 pages. GB 2338686 12/1999 Print out of Nil?sk Aquatron 8 machine, www.mn.nil?sk-advance. JP 08-182638 12/1994 JP 08496496 H1995 com,- dated Jan. 30, 2003, 1 page. JP 07047039 7/1996 Service Master, Boss 2000B Manual, Oct. 1995, 42 pages. JP 2001_258807 9/2001 Service Master, Boss 2000E Manual, Aug. 1997, 32 pages. JP 2002_07g650 3/2002 Service Master, Boss 2000LE Manual, Mar. 1998, 30 pages. JP 2005/324020 11/2005 Warning: Your Competitor has a KaiVac, Sep. 1998, 10 pages. W0 W0 86/ 01240 2/ 1986 International Preliminary Report on Patentability for International W0 W0 89/ 06624 7/1989 (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT/US2010/042116, mailed Feb. 9, W0 WO 92/13480 8/1992 2012 7 pages, W0 WO 86/02394 4/1996 W0 W0 97/ 15730 5/ 1997 * cited by examiner

US. Patent Nov. 6, 2012 Sheet 1 of4 US 8,302,240 B2

US 8,302,240 B2 1

SELECTIVELY ADJUSTABLE STEERING MECHANISM FOR USE ON A FLOOR

CLEANING MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to ?oor cleaning machines. More speci?cally, one embodiment of the present invention is a ?oor cleaning machine that includes a steering mechanism With a ?exible telescoping portion. The ?exible telescoping portion accommodates movement of a housing to Which it is associated to alloW easy access to interior portions of the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Floor cleaning machines generally of the Walk behind or ride on variety are comprised of a chassis supported by a plurality of Wheels, one of Which is steerable to control the path of the machine. The chassis also accommodates the cleaning apparatus, such as a brush(s), a squeegee, a bur nisher, for example (hereinafter “cleaning apparatus”). The steerable Wheel is interconnected to a steering Wheel, or joy stick, by Way of a steering mechanism comprised of various gears. The chassis also supports tanks used to hold Water cleaning ?uids and spent cleaning ?uids suctioned from the ?oor. The majority of the components associated With the cleaning machine are surrounded by at least one housing Which protects the internal components from the environment and protects individuals that are Working around the machine from touching the often hot internal components. As ?oor cleaning machines are often used in tight spaces, such as bathrooms and hallWays, it is desirable to make ?oor cleaning machines as compact as possible.

It is also desirable to provide ?oor cleaning machines that alloW for easy access to internal componentry for mainte nance and repair thereof. Unfortunately, the desire for easy access is often at odds With the desire to provide a compact apparatus. Speci?cally, prior art machines are constructed in such a Way that the internal volume thereof is minimized, providing a compact machine, but leaving virtually no easy access to internal componentry. In order to address this dis advantage, some prior art machines utiliZe removable seg ments to the housing that cover internal components. Often, hoWever, external components, such as steering Wheels, con trol panels, external storage tanks, etc ., must be removed prior to removal of these housing segments. Removal of the exter nal componentry as Well as the housing segments technology is time consuming, costly, and increases the chance that the machine Will be damaged or a component of the machine Will be lost.

Thus there is a long felt need to provide a ?oor cleaning machine that is compact yet alloWs easy access to the internal components thereof Without requiring disassembly of por tions of the ?oor cleaning machine. The folloWing disclosure describes an improved ?oor cleaning machine that includes a plurality of movable housings that are associated With exter nal components that do not require removal prior to removal or movement of the housings. Thus a highly compact, yet serviceable ?oor cleaning machine is provided, as Will be described beloW.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one aspect of the embodiment of the present invention to provide a ?oor cleaning machine that includes a chassis that is supported by a plurality of Wheels, one of Which is

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2 steerable. The steerable Wheel is associated With a steering mechanism that is also associated With the chassis. The steer ing mechanism generally may employ a plurality of gears that transfer rotational inputs from a steering Wheel to rotation of the gears that ultimately alter the angle of the steerable Wheel or Wheels. The chassis also supports ?oor cleaning apparatus, such as brushes, squeegees, spray noZZles, etc., all of Which are described in, for example, US. Pat. No. 7,533,435 entitled “Floor Treatment Apparatus”, Which is incorporated by ref erence in its entirety herein. The internal components of the ?oor cleaning machine,

such as pumps, vacuums, storage tanks, tubes, electrical hard Ware, batteries, etc. are stored Within a housing, Which gen erally de?nes the outer envelope of the ?oor cleaning device. The housing directs cooling air around certain components of the ?oor cleaning device, protects individuals from gaining accidental access to haZardous areas of the ?oor cleaning device and protects internal components of the ?oor cleaning device from environmental damage. In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing may be comprised of a primary housing directly interconnected to the chassis. The primary housing may have a plurality of removable segments that alloW selective access to the interior of the ?oor cleaning device or may be of one piece construction that surrounds all internal components of the ?oor cleaning machine. The pri mary housing may be removable from the chassis in any number of Ways knoWn in the art. A front housing is rotatably interconnected to at least one of the primary housing or the chassis and is thus capable of transitioning aWay from the primary housing to alloW access to internal components cov ered thereby, both from above and from the front of the ?oor cleaning machine. Finally, a rear housing is provided that may also be rotatably interconnected to the chassis and/ or primary housing. The housing segment is also selectively rotatable from the primary housing to alloW access to internal compo nents covered thereby, both from the rear and top of the ?oor cleaning machine. The front housing of one embodiment of the present inven

tion accommodates various controls associated With the ?oor cleaning machine. These controls may indicate the amount of cleaning and spent ?uid in the tanks, control poWer, battery life, etc. The front housing also accommodates a steering Wheel that alloWs the operator to selectively control the move ment of the ?oor cleaning machine. The steering Wheel is interconnected to a steering mechanism by a shaft. Rotation of the steering Wheel causes the connected shaft to similarly rotate, ultimately causing a change to the angle of the steer able Wheel. The steering shaft of one embodiment of the present inven

tion is able to move as the housing rotates Without requiring disconnection from the steering mechanism or removal of the steering Wheel. The shaft of one embodiment includes a sta tionary rigid portion that is slidably interconnected to a ?ex ible portion that selectively slides over the rigid portion and ?exes When the front housing is rotated aWay from the pri mary housing. More speci?cally, in order to also accommo date the movement of the shaft, a slip ?tting is preferably interconnected to the ?exible portion to alloW the steering shaft to separate from the chassis, by sliding over the rigid portion, While remaining interconnected to the steering mechanism. The rear housing of one embodiment of the present inven

tion may accommodate a tank that stores at least one of clean Water or Waste Water. In one embodiment, the tank is capped prior to rotating it aWay from the primary housing to avoid spillage of the tank contents. One advantage of some embodi ments of the present invention described herein, is that a

US 8,302,240 B2 3

compact ?oor cleaning machine is provided that allows for easy and selective access to internal components of the machine Without having to remove the machine housing, a timely and thus costly process.

The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. Moreover, refer ences made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof shouldbe understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as Well as in the attached draWings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limita tion as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, compo nents, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention Will become more readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly When taken together With the draWings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying draWings, Which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the speci?cation, illustrate embodi ments of the invention and together With the general descrip tion of the invention given above and the detailed description of the draWings given beloW, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation vieW of the ?oor cleaning machine of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation vieW of FIG. 1 Wherein a front housing and a rear housing have been rotated from a primary housing of the ?oor cleaning machine;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation vieW of the ?oor cleaning device shoWing a chassis, a steering shaft and steering Wheel, the aforementioned housing has been removed for clarity; and

FIG. 4 is a front perspective vieW similar to that of FIG. 3 Wherein the steering Wheel has been moved to a second posi tion.

To assist in the understanding of one embodiment of the present invention the folloWing list of components and asso ciated numbering found in the draWings is provided herein:

# Components

2 Floor cleaning machine 6 Chassis

10 Rear Wheel 14 Front Wheel 18 Steering mechanism 22 Steering shaft 26 Steering Wheel 30 Cleaning apparatus 34 Front housing 3 8 Rear housing 42 Primary housing 46 Vacuum motor 50 Control panel 54 Front hinge 5 8 Rear hinge 62 Tank 66 Rigid portion 70 Slip ?tting 74 Flexible portion 78 Shaft

It should be understood that the draWings are not necessar ily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary

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4 for an understanding of the invention or that render other details dif?cult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring noW to FIGS. 1-4, a ?oor cleaning machine 2 of one embodiment of the present invention is shoWn that is generally comprised of a chassis 6 that is supported by tWo rear Wheels 10 and a steerable front Wheel 14. The front Wheel 14 is associated With a steering mechanism 18 that is also interconnected to the chassis 6. A steering shaft 22 (FIGS. 3 and 4 only) is interconnected to the steering mechanism 10 and terminates at a steering Wheel 26. The chassis 6 also supports at least one cleaning apparatus 30 (FIG. 1) and a plurality of housings. TWo of the housings, a front housing 34 and a rear housing 38, are capable of rotating aWay from a primary housing 42 to provide access to interior components of the ?oor cleaning machine 2, such as a vacuum motor 46 (FIG. 2). The steering Wheel 26 is also associated With the front housing 34 and remains interconnected thereto When the front housing 34 is rotated aWay from the primary housing 42 (FIG. 2). The steering shaft 22 of one embodiment of the present invention is thus ?exible and is capable of moving aWay from the chassis 6 While remaining interconnected to the steering mechanism 18.

Referring noW to FIG. 1, the ?oor cleaning machine 2 of one embodiment of the present invention is shoWn. Here, the front housing 34 is connected to a front portion of the primary housing (42) and accommodates a control panel 50 and the steering Wheel 26. The rear housing 38 is also interconnected to the primary housing 42 and encloses hoses, mechanical and electrical components of the machine. The front Wheel 14, Which is steerable, and the rear Wheel 10 (a second rear Wheel is not shoWn but positioned on the opposite side of the machine) Which generally is not steerable, is associated With the chassis. The cleaning apparatus 30, such as a cleaning brush and a squeegee, is also associated With the chassis. One skilled in the art Will appreciate that the cleaning apparatus may be a brush, a scrubber, a bumisher, a squeegee, a spray noZZle, spent ?uid pick-up mechanism etc., some of Which are described in detail in the patent described in previously incorporated US. Pat. No. 7,533,435.

Referring noW to FIG. 2, the ?oor cleaning machine 2 of one embodiment of the present invention is shoWn in a second con?guration. Here, the front housing 34 and rear housing 38 have been rotated aWay from the primary housing 42 to expose internal components of the ?oor cleaning machine 2. Here, the steering Wheel 26 and control panel 50 are moved along With the front housing 34. The connections associated With the control panel 50 and the steering Wheel 26, i.e. the steering shaft 22, remain associated With the chassis 6, Which Will be described in further detail With respect to FIGS. 3 and 4. The internal components, such as a vacuum motor 46 are thus exposed to be maintained or repaired. The front housing 34 of the embodiment shoWn, is hingedly interconnected to the primary housing 42 by Way of a front hinge 54. One skilled in the art Will appreciate, hoWever, that the front hous ing 34 may rotatably interconnect directly to the chassis 6. The rear housing 38 is rotatably interconnected to the chassis 6 by Way ofa rear hinge 58 and accommodates in one embodi ment a storage tank 62. Those in the art Will also appreciate that the rotatable housings could be rotated in virtually any direction desired Which Wouldbest facilitate the objects of the bene?ts of the disclosed inventive features.

US 8,302,240 B2 5

Referring noW to FIGS. 3 and 4, the nature of the steering shaft 22 is shown, With the remainder of the components shoWn in FIGS. 1 and 2 having been removed for clarity. The steering shaft 22 may be comprised of a rigid portion 66, that is interconnected to the steering Wheel 26 and a slip ?tting 70, With a ?exible portion 74 therebetWeen. Rotation of the steer ing Wheel 26 Will thus rotate the rigid portion 66, Which Will rotate the ?exible portion 74 and the slip ?tting 70, Which Will ultimately rotate the front Wheel 14 to alloW steering of the ?oor cleaning machines.

Referring speci?cally to FIG. 4, the steering Wheel 26 is shoWn in a second position of use, Where the front housing has been rotated aWay from the primary housing (see FIG. 2). Here, one can quickly appreciate that When rotated, the ?ex ible portion 74 Will ?ex to alloW the steering Wheel to be maintained With the front housing. In addition, the slip ?tting 70 Will move upWardly aWay from the chassis 6. The slip ?tting 70 is slidingly interconnected to a shaft 78 that is interconnected to at least one mechanism, such as a gear or belt, that rotates the steerable front Wheel 14. As those in the art Will appreciate the shaft 8 could also be directly connected to the steering Wheel assembly.

In one embodiment, the shaft 78 is hexagonal and cooper ates With a hexagonal opening in the slip ?tting 70 to alloW rotation of the steering Wheel 26 to be translated to the steer able shaft 22 to alloW the rotation of the steerable front Wheel 14. One skilled in the art Will appreciate, hoWever, that any con?guration that provides rotational locking betWeen the slip ?tting 70 and the shaft 78 that Would alloW for rotation of the shaft 78 upon rotation of the slip ?tting 70 is Within the scope of the disclosure. The ?exible portion 74 may be constructed of nylon

impregnated rubber or any other compliant or ?exible mate rial. Alternatively, a Wire overWrapped ?exible belloWs mem ber may be used instead of a composite rubber member. Further, in order to facilitate rotational translation of the steering Wheel 26 to the steering mechanism, the ?exible portion 74 may be comprised of a rubber tube Wrapped by a ?exible metal coil. Additionally, one of skill in the art Will appreciate that a belloWs system may be used Wherein the slip ?tting 70 is omitted and the belloWs Would be directly inter connected to the steering mechanism 18 and thus Would alloW for bending of the steering shaft 22 and selective elongation thereof if needed. One skilled in the art Will appreciate the various systems that may be used to achieve the goal of providing at least one of ?exibility in the steering assembly and/ or elongation thereof to accommodate the moving of the front housing.

In one embodiment of the present invention the ?exible portion 74 is made of steel reinforced rubber and is about 22 inches long. In addition, the steering shaft 78 is 9 inches long and has a hexagonal exterior con?guration that ?ts into a hexagonal opening of the slip ?tting 70. One skilled in the art Will also appreciate that the shaft 78 may be holloW such that the slip ?tting 70 ?ts Within the shaft 78, for example.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modi?cations and alterations of those embodiments Will occur to those skilled in the art. HoWever, it is to be expressly understood that such modi?cations and alterations are Within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the folloWing claims. What is claimed is: 1. A ?oor cleaning machine, comprising: a primary housing; a front housing rotatably associated With the primary hous

ing by Way of a ?rst hinge such that the front housing is capable of rotating aWay from primary housing;

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6 a rear housing rotatably associated With the primary hous

ing by Way of a second hinge such that the rear housing is capable of rotating aWay from the primary housing;

a steering mechanism associated With the front housing; a steering shaft interconnected betWeen the steering Wheel

and a chassis, Wherein When the front housing is rotated from the primary housing, the steering shaft ?exes and moves coincident With the movement of the front hous ing such that the steering Wheel remains associated With the chassis;

said steering shaft is comprised of an elongated rigid por tion that is interconnected to a steering Wheel on a ?rst end and to a ?exible portion on a second end;

the ?exible portion having a ?rst end that is interconnected to the elongated rigid portion an a second end that is open and that leads to a holloW portion of the ?exible portion;

a shaft having a ?rst end associated With the steering mechanism and a second end operably interconnected to the second end of the ?exible portion; and

Wherein the steering shaft extends betWeen a ?rst length and a second length, the ?rst length is Wherein the sec ond end of the shaft and the second end of the ?exible portion are positioned adjacent to each other Wherein the shaft is received Within the holloW portion of the ?exible portion and the second length is Wherein the ?rst end of the shaft and the second end of the ?exible portion are positioned adjacent to each other.

2. The ?oor cleaning machine of claim 1, Wherein the ?exible portion has a slip ?tting on the second end thereof that is slidingly interconnected to the shaft.

3. The ?oor cleaning machine of claim 2, Wherein the shaft of the steering mechanism has a hexagonal outer surface that interacts With a hexagonal hole in the slip ?tting.

4. The ?oor cleaning machine of claim 1, further compris ing a ?oor cleaning apparatus associated With the chassis.

5. The ?oor cleaning machine of claim 1, Wherein the second hinge is located closer to a rear Wheel of the ?oor cleaning machine than a front Wheel of the ?oor cleaning machine.

6. A ?oor cleaning machine, comprising: a primary housing; a front housing rotatably interconnected to the primary

housing by Way of a ?rst hinge such that the front hous ing is capable of rotating relative to the primary housing;

a rear housing rotatably interconnected to the primary housing by Way of a ?rst hinge such that the rear housing is capable of rotating relative to the primary housing;

a means for steering associated With the front housing; and an interconnecting member associating the means for

steering With a chassis, Wherein When the front housing is rotated from the primary housing, the interconnecting member ?exes and moves coincident With the move ment of the front housing such that the means for steer ing remains associated With the chassis;

the interconnecting member includes a means for steering comprising an elongated rigid portion that is intercon nected to a steering Wheel on a ?rst end and to a ?exible portion on a second end;

the ?exible portion having a ?rst end that is interconnected to the elongated rigid portion an a second end that is open and that leads to a holloW portion of the ?exible portion;

a shaft having a ?rst end associated With the steering mechanism and a second end operably interconnected to the second end of the ?exible portion;

US 8,302,240 B2 7 8

wherein the steering shaft extends betWeen a ?rst length 8. The ?oor cleaning machine of claim 7, Wherein the shaft and a Second length, the ?rst length 15 wherein the Sec- of the steering mechanism interacts With a hexagonal hole in ond end of the shaft and the second end of the ?exible the Slip ?ning portion are positioned adjacent to each other Wherein the shaft is received Within the holloW portion of the ?exible 5 portion and the second length is Wherein the ?rst end of the shaft and the second end of the ?exible portion are positioned adjacent to each other.

7. The ?oor cleaning device of claim 6, Wherein the ?exible portion has a slip ?tting on the second end thereof that is slidingly interconnected to the shaft. * * * * *

9. The ?oor cleaning machine of claim 6, further compris ing a ?oor cleaning apparatus associated With the chassis.

us8302240

Design